INTERMEDIATE Listening, Comprehension & Vocabulary Exercise

Time-Outs

(Article originally appeared in Tokyo Journal Issue #274 Pg 100)

Parents have long used “time-outs” as a technique to stop unacceptable behavior; however, time-outs are not just an effective punishment. They also give children an opportunity to calm down and gain self-control.

ADVANCED Listening, Comprehension & Vocabulary Exercise

Silence of the Sengu

Reflections on Time at the Grand Shrines of Ise

Every 20 years, the Imperial Grand Shrines at Ise are totally rebuilt in a process known as the Shikinen Sengu that extends back to the eighth century or earlier. Though the origins of this custom may be shrouded in mythology, the faithful adherence to the principles of the Shikinen has resulted in the preservation of ancient Japanese architectural and ritual forms.